Getting started
How
ChessMate
Works.
Whether you’re registering for your first tournament or running a 300-player open, ChessMate handles the logistics so you can focus on chess.
Players
4 stepsAccount → find → register → play
Directors
6 stepsCreate → pair → run → payout
Spectators
No loginPublic pages, live results
01
Create your account
Sign up with your email, choose the Player role, and link your US Chess member ID. Your USCF rating, FIDE title, Chess.com, and Lichess stats populate automatically.
02
Find a tournament
Browse all upcoming events. Filter by location, format (Swiss or Round Robin), time control, or entry fee. Every listing shows the prize fund and registration deadline upfront.
03
Register & pay
Choose your section, confirm your entry, and pay online via Stripe. Free tournaments skip the payment step. Confirmation appears on your player dashboard immediately.
04
Play & follow live
When pairings are published they appear on your dashboard and the public tournament page in real time. Results update live as they're entered — no refresh, on any device.
01
Register as a director
Select the Tournament Director role at signup and choose your USCF certification level (Club TD through National TD). Your level determines which events you can officially direct.
02
Create your event
Set the name, venue, dates, format, time controls, sections, entry fees, and prize structure. Save as a draft and publish when you're ready.
03
Invite co-directors
Large events often need a team. Invite other registered TDs by email or USCF ID. Co-directors can generate pairings and enter results alongside you.
04
Run the tournament
Generate Swiss pairings or Round Robin schedules in one click. Publish each round when ready — every player watching sees updates live, no refresh needed.
05
Enter results
Enter results board by board as games finish. Standings update immediately. Override any pairing or result manually when needed.
06
Finish & get paid
Mark the tournament as Finished. Your payout is processed automatically via Stripe Connect. Funds land in your account within 2 business days.
Live brackets
Pairings and results update in real time — no account required to view.
Swiss & Round Robin
Both formats fully supported. FIDE pairing algorithm and Berger tables.
USCF verification
Membership checked automatically. Expired IDs flagged before tournament day.
Stripe payments
Entry fees collected at registration. Payouts deposited automatically.
Public profiles
USCF, FIDE, Chess.com, and Lichess ratings on every player's shareable page.
Mobile-first
Optimized for arbiters on tablets, players on phones, directors on desktops.
Ready to
get started?
Create your account in under two minutes. No credit card required.